dire

comparative direr · comparative more dire · superlative direst · superlative most dire

1. Warning of bad consequences: ill-boding; portentous.

   dire omens

   Synonyms: foreboding, inauspicious, augurous, baleful, bodeful, boding, disastrous, divine

2. Requiring action to prevent bad consequences: urgent, pressing.

   dire need (of)

   1 more example

   One of the hidden glories of Victorian engineering is proper drains.[…]But out of sight is out of mind. And that, together with the inherent yuckiness of the subject, means that many old sewers have been neglected and are in dire need of repair.

   2014 June 14, “It's a gas”, in The Economist, volume 411, number 8891

   Synonyms: acute, exigent, acute, bad, clamant, crying, sore, exigent

3. Expressing bad consequences: dreadful; dismal.

   dire consequences;  to be in dire straits

   1 more example

   Cristiana Paşca Palmer, the executive secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, said the destruction of the world’s biggest rainforest was a grim reminder that a fresh approach needed to stabilise the climate and prevent ecosystems from declining to a point of no return, with dire consequences for humanity.

   2019 August 30, Jonathan Watts, “Amazon fires show world heading for point of no return, says UN”, in The Guardian

   Synonyms: bleak, gloomy, cheerless, comfortless, bleak, dark, morose, depressing

4. UKslangBad in quality, awful, terrible.

   His dire blunder allowed her to checkmate him with her next move.

   2 more examples

   And, of course, overlooking 1 ... Q-R8 mate, would be a dire mistake.

   1973 May, Jack Straley Battell, “Announce the Mate!”, in Chess Life & Review

   A second Norwich goal in four minutes arrived after some dire Newcastle defending. Gosling gave the ball away with a sloppy back-pass, allowing Crofts to curl in a cross that the unmarked Morison powered in with a firm, 12-yard header.

   2011 December 10, Arindam Rej, “Norwich 4-2 Newcastle”, in BBC Sport

   Synonyms: foul, lousy, abysmal, atrocious, awful, bad, chronic, coarse

5. fantasyFerocious and of intimidating appearance, like a dire wolf.

plural Dires

1. A surname.